including the more than 2300 who were killed at pearl harbor alone. they are all remembered here on the field of gold stars behind me. this memorial is meant to ensure that their sacrifice will be remembered in perpetuity. when our children and our grandchildren visit this place, this memorial, they will learn about what it means when we meay freedom is not free. hopefully it will inspire them to also serve their country. we in the national park service tried every day to repair -- repay and honor the sacrifice of the men and women who served in world war ii by caring for this memorial and by educating our visitors about the importance of world war ii in american history. as the proud son of world war

ii veteran, i am honored to be entrusted with this care. thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you, sir. ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce the chairman of the board of the friends of the national world war ii memorial, lieutenant-general mckiliter. >> good afternoon. thank you for joining us as it -- as we commemorate the 71st anniversary of the attack on pearl harbor and the beginning of world war ii. we want to welcome our distinguished guests today, admiral james winnefeld, our keynote speaker. we are also honored to have with us general px kelly, chairman

of the american battle monuments commission who played a role in establishing this special monument. [applause] it is always good to have superintendent bill vogel, our cost for this to work together. also the director of the bell "honor flight" -- the film "honor flight." there are many other distinguished guests to give a welcome to our honored guests, the pearl harbor survivors and all of our world war ii veterans and your families. and a very warm welcome to all veterans and their families with us. a special thank you to those serving in our armed forces and their families.

what a magnificent job they have done in iraq and are doing in afghanistan. their performance of duty has been magnificent. we cannot say enough about those great men and women, our heroes. because today to remember and honor -- we pause today to remember and honor all the men and women he 71 years ago today for safeguarding the nation at prof harbor and other military facilities on the island of oahu in hawaii. on 7:53 in the morning, without warning, the japanese launched a massive air attack against pearl harbor and other military bases on that island. when the attack ended, almost 3000 americans have lost their lives. a total of 21 ships were demolished. 188 aircraft were destroyed.

most of those aircraft were destroyed before they could become airborne. after the attack, president franklin roosevelt stated this day, december 7, as a day which will live in infamy. and it has. we gather to remember that attack on pearl harbor and honor those who received the blow of that first strike. and also remember and honor all those who served in world war ii. it is my pleasure today to represent the friends of the national world war ii memorial. an organization dedicated to ensuring that we always remember the greatest generation and their service, valor, and sacrifice. all those who supported on the

home front. to achieve this, we worked very closely and proudly with the national parks service and with the department of defense to bring a events like this throughout the year and concerts' throughout the summer. this memorial is a very sacred place. where we come to visit, to remember, to reflect, and commemorate the defining moments of world war ii. and to honor those who served both on the battlefront and on the home front. and the families left behind. this memorial honors the more than 16 million men and women who served in our armed forces during world war ii. more than 400,000 of those men and women never returned home. and the additional millions that

supported the war efforts from america's arsenal of democracy on this home front. the world war ii fought the most destructive war in history. they thought that war against great odds. not only did they fight and win that war and save this nation, but they literally saved the world. this nation will never forget our world war ii veterans, all of our veterans and their families and especially those who gave all their tomorrows. as the 18 or 19-year old, all of pur tomorrow's is a high rice to play so we can live in beautiful america we are proud to call home. god bless our world war ii

veterans, their families, all of our veterans. the protect -- we pray god will protect those serving in our armed forces and the families they have to leave behind. god bless america. thank you very much. [applause] but ladies and gentlemen, we are privileged to have with us members of the united states marine band brass quintets who will now perform the musical patriotic salute to our veterans. ♪

[applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, another big round of applause for the brass quintet. [applause] at this time, i would like to introduce the producer, the director of the film "honor flight," mr. dan hayes. [applause] >> thank you so much to the friends of the world war ii memorial and the national park service for having me here today. what an honor to be here with all of you to remember such an important day in our history. about three years ago, i

wandered down to this memorial with my video camera by the atlantic color and asked world war ii veteran a simple question. how is your day going? he looked at me with sincerity and said, i could die happy man now that i have made this trip. that answer was the beginning of an incredible journey for me. it served as an inspiration to make a documentary about communities across the country that have pulled together to send these veterans, now in their 80's and 90's, on a trip to d.c. to see their memorial. these trips are called on flights. on a flight is a non-profit organization that flies world war ii here to see this memorial at no cost. they fly from 117 cities from across the country and have flown over 100,000 veterans to date.

for the past two years, my business partners and i and our team at precinct media, have all of the veterans and volunteers from the awesome stars and stripes honor flight in milwaukee. it is my honor to direct your attention to two world war ii veterans with us today. they are amazing guys and have become a very good friends. i would first like to acknowledge julian and his daughter julie. [applause] he served in the navy as a cook and also on the burial disposal units were he buried both japanese and american soldiers. he is a published poet and took his first trip to washington, d.c., on and on a flight. next and what to tell you about joe. he is a company today by his wife. [applause]

many of you know joe but you might not know why. that picture was taken of him in 1945 for the life magazine. he was called the human skeleton, weighing only 70 pounds. after suffering in a prison camp, his photograph became one of the most iconic images of world war ii. it is only fitting today is 87 per day. [applause] their stores have been submitted to bob patrick and the betterment history project at the library of congress. for years and years, researchers and documentarian's can find those interviews and news of those stories for the risch future products. these two men represent -- of their stories for future

projects. freedom is a lofty ideal. it is used a lot here but i sometimes wonder if it has lost its potency. when joe was liberated, there was another pow next to him. he died after -- the day after the liberation took place. the wall behind me remind us all that many paid the open a price. those who made it home hug to their families, returned to work and hardly ever talked about the war again. this memorial has allowed the world war ii veterans to open up and share their stories. sometimes for the first time ever. on the day he was liberated, joe was asked about his experience in the pow camp. he said he learned to pray in a nazi prison camp and from here on out, every day is a bonus. every day is a bonus living in this country of freedom and opportunity. that is what i learned making

this film and spending time with those who fought in world war ii. to paraphrase joe dean, to all the veterans here today, we will never forget your legacy. you will never forget what you did for this country and our mission to the honor flight network and this film is to share your incredible story. to our family and neighborhood and community spirit the promise that by visiting this memorial and seeing our film, children in this country will know the price of feed them and what you did. tonight we begin to fulfill that promise as we join 2500 people in the dar constitution hall to continue to honor the service of our world war ii with a special screening of the "honor flight" documentary. that tells their stories as well as the doctor and wife of one of

the vet's in our film. we will never forget what you did for our country. thank you for having me today. [applause] >> it is now my privilege to introduce our keynote speaker, admiral james winnefeld. he is serving as the ninth vice- chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. america's second ranking highest -- highest ranking military officer. he graduated from georgia tech and received his commission to the naval rotc program f14 tomkat and taught at the fighter weapons school. he commended among many commands fighter squadron 211, the uss cleveland, the uss enterprise,

leading to combat operations in afghanistan immediately following the terrorist attacks at that the 9/11, 2001. as commander of the uss theodore roosevelt carrier strike group, he led a task forces in support operation iraqi freedom. he had commanded the u.s. -- the nato allied joint command in lisbon. his tours include service on the fleet force command, joint forces command and the j5 and executive assistant to the vice- chairman of naval operations. he commanded the north american aerospace defense command norad and u.s. northern command before selected as the vice-chairman of the authorities of staff. admiral winnefeld is a highly

decorated leader. please welcome the vice-chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral sandy winnefeld. >> good afternoon, everybody. general, to keep that introduction. distinguished guest -- thank you for that introduction. distinguished guests, what an honor it is to be with you here today and to stand in front of these world war ii veterans. as i was listening to that rendition of america the beautiful, it struck me what a wonderful idea america is and what america -- a wonderful place america is and all of you fought for her and we deeply appreciate what you did for us. we will never forget.

colonel, chaplin, members of the color guard, marine band, friends of the national world war ii memorial and members of the national park service, thank you for helping us recognize this very important day in some very important people. i offer a very special welcome to all our world war ii veterans and their families and to all our pearl harbor survivors here today. many of whom have traveled so far to be here and we thank those amid that travel possible. nice shoes, by the way. we really appreciate it. we pause this afternoon to remember the tragedy that struck par harbor on that now infamous day 71 years ago -- that struck pearl harbor 71 years ago. but we learned that japanese forces shattered a peaceful

lions sunday morning, killing or wounding over 2400 americans and wrecking a good portion of our pacific forces. the tragedy that marked that morning was an unimaginable event that shocked our nation but it also stirred a quiet and peace-loving people to action. we honor the bravery and service demonstrated by some many people, some americans and people from other countries in that conflict. so it is appropriate that a memorial honoring the service and sacrifice of some money in that conflict is our setting for today. the 4048 gold stars -- represent those killed or missing in action as a result of world war ii. serving as a wonderful backdrop for the wreaths we will lay this

afternoon, reminding us that here on this sacred ground, we mark the price of freedom for this country. today our military is involved in another conflict half a world away. as the result of a different surprise attack on american soil and killed nearly 3000 of our fellow americans in one day. there are ties between these two events and the wars that follow. one of which, just as the seventh uss enterprise was on her way back to port at pearl harbor on december 7, 1941, and later launched the first u.s. strikes of the war against japan at the marshall islands, the current u.s.s. enterprise was also on her way home on september 11, 2001.

just over three weeks later, she would launch the first strikes against al qaeda and the taliban and afghanistan. imagine yourself aboard uss enterprise on the night of those first strikes. here's part of what her captain told her crew -- aboard the enterprise, good evening, shipmates. the last time america actually went to war to defend against an attack on our home land was almost exactly 60 years ago. when a treacherous enemy conducted a surprise attack on pearl harbor. during that attack, a different enterprise was at sea on her way home and was an integral response to that difficult and bloody task of soundly defeating an enemy. ever since then, when america has gone to war, it has been to protect freedom and our vital interests and those of our

allies. we have not had to defend our homeland since december 7, 1941. however, on september 11, our enterprise was at sea on her way home during a treacherous new attack on our country. tonight, a ship named enterprise will again be an integral part of our nation's response. like 1941, this war is a little more personal than defending our vital interests. we are defending our family. the electric feeling among that ship's crew had to replicate the feeling felt by some people in the front row today before their first action in world war ii. i want you to know there is a direct connection between your heroism and service and the heroism and service that our wonderful men and women in

uniform who have struck back in this war with the same bravery and perseverance that defined your service in world war ii and is exemplified by your presence here today. the men and women who today where the cost of our nation walked confidently in your footsteps. they look up to, specifically to you. they live your legacy as members of the next greatest generation and you should be proud of them. i know you are. and i know i am. but today we pause to honor you and the memory of those lost in world war ii. and to salute those who won that way for ourd the nation's prosperity and leadership over the last seven decades and in this christmas season, made its wonderful life

possible for the rest of us here in this audience, and clothing myself and my family. i would say it has made this nation prosperous -- including myself and my family. i would say it has made this nation prosperous. a memorial like this one in which we are having this ceremony and days of remembrance like this, try as we might, will never be able to adequately recognize your service and sacrifice. so we can thank you for what you have done for our nation, for your service, we can thank you for being with us today and we can thank you and your families and your support of friends for being with you here today. nd we can thank all o fyof you gathered here today for your continued support of your nation's military. god bless our men and women in uniform and their families and god bless the united states of

america and thank you so very much for your service. [applause] >> thank you very much for those inspiring comments. ladies and gentlemen at this time, we will prepare for the official wreath laying at the freedom wall. >> explore the history and culture of new york's city albany this weekend on c-span2 on a book tv and american history to be on c-span3. next, a discussion about modern- day slavery and human trafficking. then president obama lighting the national christmas tree, all by the capitol christmas tree lighting ceremony with speaker john boehner. on newsmaker, the vermont governor, the new chairman at the democratic governors' association, talks about the state issues including employment and the affordable care act as well as the fiscal cliff and plant the 2013 and

2014 elections. newsmakers is live sunday at 10:00 a.m.. then we will again at 6 eastern on c-span. -- we wil show uiit again at 6 eastern on c-span3 >> we have not coordinated care. all these sources we have end up having so many cracks that they are as harmful as the diseases we are treating. you have to step back and ask, are we hurting people overall on the global level? what are we doing sometimes? now we have the institute of medicine report saying 30% of everything we do may not be necessary in health care. 30% of all the medications we prescribed, the tests we order, the procedures. this is something i think which is for the first time really being called out as a problem.

>> dysfunction in the u.s. health care industry. the doctor on what hospitals will not tell you. his latest is unaccountable. tonight at 10:00 on afterwards on c-span2's book to be. -- book tv. >> the invasion of japan without considering the atomic bomb. it was estimated the land would [unintelligible] >> as the grandson of someone in the middle of this, i choose to honor birth -- both. the sacrifice and the sacrifice of american servicemen fighting their way to the pacific and of the little girl who died as a result of the atomic bombing. it is unimaginable what that

must have been mike, to be close to the hypocenter where that fireball originated and blast was strongest. >> follow clifton truman daniel on his journey to hiroshima sunday on american history tv. he joins us to discuss meetings with bomb survivors and the inspiration for his trip at 9 eastern. >> now discussion of slavery in contemporary society. oppressors and authors discuss the legal economic and policy -- a group of authors discuss the legal economic and policy decisions. toast the by young university. -- hosted by yale university. >> good morning. what a full room. what a full room.